The term “grande école” defines a higher education institution which has been developed outside the university system. It is unique and typically French.

Established during the 18th century, they were founded to provide an alternative to what was considered an excessively broad education at the universities.

Initially they would educate the military engineers, civil engineers and political leaders who were to form the future elite of French society. Today they cover a range of disciplines and are particularly tuned to prepare top-rank professionals in specific areas.

The “grandes écoles” are very selective schools, public or private. They award school specific or national diplomas. The quality of the curriculum in all “grandes écoles”, whether public or private, is guaranteed by the French Ministry of Education.

They require five years of study (Bac + 5) and award a diploma at a Master’s degree level. Several periods of internships, in France or abroad, are part of the curriculum.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

French students are admitted through competitive examination following a preparatory course.

Philippine students could be admitted depending on their academic record and subject to flexible admission procedures. Transfer bridges are possible between the university and a “grande école”, particularly at the graduate level.

TUITION FEES

MAIN CATEGORIES OF ''GRANDES ÉCOLES"

GRANDES ECOLES FOR ENGINEERING

There are about 240 private and public Engineering schools in France. The curriculum is periodically reviewed and accredited by the National Committee on Engineering Degrees (CTI).

The curriculum may have a broad range of courses or can specialize in one discipline (Agronomy, Computer Science, Chemistry, etc). Engineering degrees are national degrees. Universities offer also Engineering programs and diplomas (about 50% of the engineering degrees).

N+i PROGRAM

“n+i” Engineering Institute offers a special program which is intended for international students who have completed at least 4 years of postsecondary education in Engineering (Bachelor’s degree: B.Tech, B.Eng, B.Sc, or equivalent) and who look for additional training in France in order to practice engineering on an international scale.

The program facilitates access to all Engineering schools in France. The students enrolled in the “n+i” program benefit also of French language courses and internships included in the curriculum.

GRANDES ECOLES FOR BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Business Schools (around 230) structure their programs around several Majors: Finance, Commerce, Economics, Marketing, Human Resources. Many of them are affiliated with the Chambers of Commerce and are associated with the industrial sectors.

The curriculum includes mandatory internships. Courses are taught, in French, may include French language tutorials or they are thought in English.

Most of the French MBA schools have received international accreditations such as AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS that guarantee the high standards of the programs.

The majority of prestigious Business and Management schools are members of CampusFrance.

OTHER "GRANDES ÉCOLES"

There are several other “grandes écoles” that offer top rank programs in various fields: Écoles Normales Supérieures for future professors and researchers, École de la Magistrature for judges, École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) – royal path to the senior Civil servants careers.

Among the best known “grandes écoles” outside France are the nine “Instituts d’Études Politiques” (IEP) that offer a variety of academic, research and specific programs in the area of Political Sciences and International Relations. The most famous is Sciences-Politiques in Paris, known as Sciences-Po.

For more information:

Ministère de l’Éducation et de la Recherche – list of Grandes Écoles